Compact ultraviolet fluid disinfection device and method

Abstract

A device for disinfecting a fluid includes a first casing and a second casing. Each casing includes at least one source of UV radiation. A fluid passage is provided between the first casing and the second casing. The UV radiation emitted from the at least one source of UV radiation of the first casing is emitted in a first direction toward the fluid passage. The UV radiation emitted from the at least one source of UV radiation of the second casing is emitted in a second direction toward the fluid passage. The first direction is different than the second direction.

1 . A device for disinfecting fluid, comprising:
 a first casing including a first at least one source of UV radiation;   a second casing including a second at least one source of UV radiation; and   a fluid passage provided in between the first casing and the second casing, wherein the UV radiation emitted from the first at least one source of UV radiation is directed toward the fluid passage from a first direction and the UV radiation emitted from the second at least one source of radiation is directed toward the fluid passage from a second direction that is different from the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid passage is provided in the form of a circular spiral fluid passage, a triangular spiral fluid passage, a hexagonal spiral fluid passage, a pentagonal spiral fluid passage, an octagonal spiral passage, or a rectangular spiral fluid passage. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first at least one source of UV radiation and the second at least one source of UV radiation are UV-LEDs. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first casing further comprises a first printed circuit board (PCB) including the first at least one source of UV radiation, and the second casing further comprises a second PCB including the second at least one source of UV radiation. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprises a first reflection plate positioned between the first casing and the fluid passage and a second reflection plate positioned between the second casing and the fluid passage. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprises a first heat sink coupled to an outer surface of the first casing and a second heat sink coupled an outer surface of the second casing. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of a first casing comprises a first UV-reflective finish and an inner surface of the second casing comprises a second UV-reflective finish. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the inlet is connected to the fluid passage at a central portion of the fluid passage. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the UV radiation emitted from the first at least one source of UV radiation and the UV radiation emitted from the second at least one source of UV radiation each have a wavelength between about 265 nanometer (nm) to about 280 nm. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first at least one source of UV radiation comprises one or more UV LEDs of 10-500 milliwatt (mW) each and placed approximately 20 millimeter (mm) to about 40 mm apart from each other above the fluid passage. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is water. 
     
     
         12 . A device for disinfecting fluid, comprising:
 a first casing including a first plurality of UV-LEDs configured to emit UV radiation;   a second casing including a second plurality of UV-LEDs configured to emit UV radiation;   a fluid passage configured to accept a fluid provided in between the first casing and the second casing;   a first reflection plate between the first casing and the fluid passage;   a second reflection plate between the second casing and the fluid passage;   an inlet coupled to the first casing and is further connected to a first end of the fluid passage; and   an outlet coupled to the second casing and is further connected to a second end of the fluid passage,   wherein the fluid enters through the inlet, passes through the fluid passage, and exits through the outlet, and the UV radiation from the first plurality of UV-LEDs is directed toward the fluid passage from a first direction and the UV radiation from the second plurality of UV-LEDs is directed toward the fluid passage from a second direction that is opposite from the first direction.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid passage is a circular spiral fluid passage, a triangular spiral fluid passage, a hexagonal spiral fluid passage, a pentagonal spiral fluid passage, an octagonal spiral passage, or a rectangular spiral fluid passage. 
     
     
         14 . A method of disinfecting fluid, comprising:
 providing a fluid to be disinfecting through a fluid passage;   providing UV radiation from a first at least one source of UV radiation, wherein the UV radiation is emitted in a first direction onto the fluid passage; and   providing UV radiation from a second at least one source of UV radiation, wherein the UV radiation is emitted in a second direction on the fluid passage, wherein the first direction is opposition from the second direction.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the UV radiation from each of the first and second at least one sources of UV radiation has a wavelength between about 265 nm to about 280 nm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid passage is a circular spiral fluid passage, a spiral triangular fluid passage, a hexagonal spiral fluid passage, a pentagonal spiral fluid passage, an octagonal spiral fluid passage, or a rectangular spiral fluid passage. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first casing further comprises an inlet connected to the fluid passage, and the second casing further comprises an outlet connected to the fluid passage, wherein the fluid enters the fluid passage from the inlet, passes through the fluid passage, and exits the fluid passage via the outlet.